Mattoo Case - Justice Finally Served
Last night I watched a re-run of an old super-hit Bollywood flick, Damini. The most memorable scene for me is when Govind (Damini’s lawyer) is approached by Chaddha (a corrupt lawyer) warning him to drop Damini’s case and leave the town or else he would regret his decision.
Least effected by Chaddha’s threats and his hired goon’s sharp sword; Govind simply flares his nostrils, points is heafty palm at Chaddha and produces one of the most powerful dialogues ever in Hindi Cinema.
He says, “Chaddha jab yeh dhai kilo ka haat kise pe padta hai toh aadmi uttha nahi utt jata hai”. Needles to say, Chaddha and his goons make a hasty exit from the screen.
But then this happened in reel life, in reality neither do we have men like Govinds who are ready to withstand any force inorder to attain justice for the needy nor do we have women like Damini, who give two hoots about the society and are even ready to sacrifice their family life just to attain justice.
However this situation seems to be changing and thankfully changing for the better. Today, finally Priyadarshini Mattoo has won her battle; a victory which has come nearly 11 years after her death.
The Delhi High Court has convicted Santosh Kumar Singh, son of a former IPS officer, in the Priyadarshni Mattoo case.He was convicted on both counts of rape and murder.
Allowing the CBI appeal against the trial court verdict acquitting the accused, a Bench comprising Justice R S Sodhi and Justice P K Bhasin said “the acquittal order passed by the trial judge in 1999 has shocked the conscience of the judiciary.”
The Bench said it would prescribe the sentence of death or life imprisonment to the convict after Diwali vacation.
Priyadarshini Mattoo, a Delhi University student, was found murdered at her Vasant Kunj flat in south Delhi on January 23, 1996.
Hopefully this win will also have a positive impact on pending cases, for example Jessica Lall, Manjunathan, Satyendra Dubey and many more. And hopefully from now on it wouldn’t take a father or a sister a life-time worth of struggle and court-room hassles in their search for righteousness.
We all have a right to express our views. In many instances; it will be against ours and in some; with us. To hear them out is 'decency' but to let them get to you is 'weakness'. 
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[…] Jessica Lall’s murder was shocking and painful just like Priyadarshini Mattoo rape and murder, just like Manjunathan’s brutal death and god only knows how many more that are today just part of India’s shinning statistics. But the corruption syndrome is so deeply gutted in our lives, in our system that it not only bends the prescribed law but so darn earn easily moulds it to ones convenience and desired outcome. […]
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Comments
11 comments | Leave your comment
Oct 17th, 2006 at 3:28 pm | #
hopefully this is the start. It has been very sickening and frustrating to see criminals go scot free because they had money and influence.Kudos to people who stood up and put pressure on the authorities to do the right thing.
Oct 18th, 2006 at 12:48 am | #
Dear Sakshi,
Sorry for being off topic. I, on the behalf of all your fans, request you to provide leadership to the Indian blogosphere by taking over Desipundit. It is no secret that you are India’s best blogger for which you are always a favourite target of “those people” who do not need to be named. What better way to guide us than through creative control of Desipundit, right Sakshi? I know that your busy corporate life combined with your blogging here and your ownership of Desicritics is a huge drain on your time, but please do kindly consider. We beg you to at least give it a thought.
Oct 18th, 2006 at 2:23 am | #
Sakshi,
I can only second what sad-but-wise said, btw what a sad name! Desi blogsphere needs your motherly love as well fatherly gussa. I know you have numerous commitments, but none can be more important than taking care of desi blogsphere. As an old fan who has never commented, yet adores you and reads every word which gets written by you, I implore you, please consider this humblest of requests. I am sure, the entire blogsphere will march right behind you in this noble venture.
You lead and we shall all follow.
your’s sincerely
Amit
Oct 18th, 2006 at 6:33 am | #
Apollo - I am happy. Seriously I am happy. I am 100% positive that with this case, Jessica Lall’s murder trial will also be hurried up. As for Santosh’s sentence, I hope he gets a life imprisonment filled with guilt and pain.
Sad but Wise & Amit - I really appreaciate such positive comments from you guys. But I can’t help but be amused too, especially when you say,”Desi blogsphere needs your motherly love as well fatherly gussa.”….this is just awesome. However I feel that there are many many more bloggers who are doing an excellant job in keeping the Desi-Blogosphere clean and green.
Hopefully DesiPundit will go on.
Oct 18th, 2006 at 2:13 pm | #
“motherly love”
ROTFL…………
Oct 19th, 2006 at 6:12 am | #
Arzan - Kya boss ! Kyon aur vat laga raha hai.
Oct 19th, 2006 at 12:50 pm | #
Yeah Justice has been done.. but in what manner!
Are we going to hand our sentences based on Candle Light Vigils in future? ZERO new evidence emerged in last 6 years. And lower court sent the accused scot free, higher court says max sentence is coming.
Oct 20th, 2006 at 5:09 am | #
one more good news today is the verdict on the Imrana rape case. her Father-in-law has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the crime.
The Indian justice system seems to be kicking into life.
Oct 20th, 2006 at 6:23 am | #
Apollo - Lets keep our fingers & toes crossed.
Nov 1st, 2006 at 12:44 pm | #
This case would have been another case which got neglected. The only reason that this case and the Jessica Lal case got a new lease of life is because of public outrage and a lot of media attention. It is a sad part of life that it is only because of these tactics that these cases are being more successful, but one cannot but think of those cases that are equally painful but where this kind of attention is not focused.
Hopefully, the public outrage and greater sensitivity does not die down, so that the next time something shameful such as the murder and then the case dismissal does not happen so easily.
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